Chapter 15 - THE WOMAN WHO NEVER DIED
Grace couldn't move.
Her mother's name appeared beneath the video.
ELENA MORGAN.
Impossible.
Her mother had died twenty-one years ago.
Richard continued speaking.
"Elena has been alive all these years."
Grace's voice broke.
"You're lying."
Richard shook his head.
"She was forced into hiding."
"By whom?"
"The same people who wanted me dead."
Grace watched Noah.
He looked calm.
Richard placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Your mother has protected him."
Grace's heart shattered.
"Where is she?"
The video ended.
Michael immediately traced the transmission.
"We have a location."
"Where?"
"Montreal."
They flew that night.
Daniel insisted on coming.
Grace almost refused.
Then she remembered Noah.
They needed everyone.
At an abandoned warehouse outside the city, they found Richard.
And Noah.
But Elena was gone.
Richard embraced Noah briefly.
Then handed him to Grace.
She held her son tightly.
"Where is she?"
Richard looked toward the darkness.
"She left ten minutes ago."
Grace's eyes filled with tears.
"Why?"
"Because she knew you'd come."
"What does she want?"
Richard hesitated.
"To finish what she started."
Then a gunshot echoed.
Adrian fell.
Daniel grabbed Grace.
"Down!"
Three armed men entered.
Richard pushed Noah behind a concrete barrier.
Grace screamed.
"Don't shoot!"
The gunmen advanced.
Daniel moved.
He had spent years manipulating contracts.
Now he was fighting to protect his son.
He tackled one attacker.
Michael dragged Grace toward the exit.
Richard fired back.
Within seconds, the warehouse became chaos.
Then a woman stepped into the doorway.
Grace froze.
Dark hair.
Pale face.
Older.
But unmistakable.
Her mother.
Elena looked at Grace.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Elena whispered:
"My little girl."
Grace's eyes filled with tears.
"You let me believe you were dead."
Elena looked at Noah.
"I had to."
"You watched me suffer."
"I watched you survive."
Grace stepped forward.
"Why?"
Elena's eyes filled.
"Because your grandfather didn't want a daughter."
She looked at Grace.
"He wanted an heir."
Richard lowered his weapon.
Elena continued.
"And when I discovered what he was building..."
She looked toward Daniel.
"I realized the only way to destroy it was to make everyone believe I was dead."
Grace swallowed.
"Then why bring Noah into this?"
Elena shook her head.
"I didn't."
Grace froze.
"Then who did?"
Elena's expression changed.
She looked at Richard.
Richard looked away.
Elena whispered:
"Your father."
Grace turned toward Richard.
"You took Noah?"
Richard didn't answer.
Elena raised her weapon.
"Richard."
He finally spoke.
"I had to."
Grace's face hardened.
"You stole my son."
Richard looked at her.
"To save him."
Elena's voice became cold.
"From what?"
May you like
Richard stared at Grace.
"From you."
